Tapir Conservation - Tapir Specialist Group

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28 Introduction The design and implementation of the present study aim to generate more precise estimates of Malayan tapir demographic parameters, which are some of the priority recommendations listed during the Malay Tapir Conservation Workshop held in Malaysia, in August 2003. This report focuses on the occurrence of Malayan tapir in a salt lick area, in the Taratak Forest Reserve, West Sumatra, Indonesia. Because Malayan tapirs (Tapirus indicus) are shy animals, counting their numbers and determining densities is challenging. Use of habitats may be assessed through indirect evidence, such as tracks, or systematic methodologies based on direct evidence, such as radiotelemetry or camera traps. The camera trapping technique has been used by several researchers in order to evaluate tapir populations, distribution, habitat use and daily activity, all crucial pieces of information for the design and implementation of tapir conservation programs (Wallace et al. 2002, Holden 2003). This technique is also very useful to study Malayan tapirs due to their character as shy, mainly nocturnal, extremely elusive animals that tend to avoid contact with humans. In the present study, we used camera traps to determine habitat use and density of Malayan tapirs in the Taratak Forest Reserve, in Sumatra. This is one of the last few remaining forests where tapirs survive in the island of Sumatra. We wanted to assess the number of animals visiting a salt lick in the Reserve. Material and Methods Placements of photo-trapping areas was chosen based on results from previous studies (Novarino, 2004), which identified a salt lick and existing animal trails that seemed like adequate locations for the placement of cameras. Eight Photo-Scout cameras (Highlander Sports Inc.) were used in this study; these were put into operation in June, 2005. Cameras were set up CONTRIBUTED PAPERS Habitat Use and Density of the Malayan Tapir (Tapirus indicus) in the Taratak Forest Reserve, Sumatra, Indonesia Wilson NOVARINO 1 , Santi N. KAMILAH 1 , Agung NUGROHO 1 , Muhammad N. JANRA 1 , Muhammad SILMI 1 , Muhammad SYAFRI 1 1 Jurusan Biologi, FMIPA Universitas Andalas, Padang, Sumatera Barat, Indonesia 25163 to operate 24 hours, with one minute delay time between pictures. These were checked every two weeks to replace film and batteries. Three cameras were deployed at the salt lick area and five along the animal trails in the surrounding forest. The placement sites varied in habitat, altitude (m a.s.l.) and location (see Table 1). Cameras were set up ± 50 cm above ground level, attached to trees and hidden with branches for camouflage and protection from animal attacks. The cameras recorded the date and time when pictures were taken. Results and Discussion Based on 12,416 hours of camera operations, 176 pictures were taken. Twelve mammals and one bird species were photographed. Pig-tailed monkey (Macaca nemestrina) became the most captured photo target, followed by Common Porcupine (Hystrix brachyura), Malayan Tapir (Tapirus indicus), and Barking Deer (Muntiacus muntjak). Other mammal species that also photographed were Wild Boar (Sus scrofa), Mitred Leaf Monkey (Presbytis melalophos), Crab-eating Monkey (Macaca fascicularis), Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris), Malayan Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus), Sunda Pangolin (Manis javanica), Yellow-throated Marten (Martes flavinuca) and Malay Mouse-deer (Tragulus javanicus). An endangered and important Southeast Asian land bird, the Argus Pheasant (Argusianus argus) was also photographed during this study. Activity of local people was also recorded. The identity of animals in nine photos is still unconfirmed due to the low light intensity and small size of targets (Figure 1). The large variety of animals, most strictly forest specialists, evidences that the Taratak forest reserve was previously relatively undisturbed. At least one of the species, the Argus pheasant, is a primary forest specialist. This animal’s abundance in Taratak is recently under threat by changes in forest cover by local people seeking to expand their Gambir (Uncharia gambir) plantations. Tapir Conservation n The Newsletter of the IUCN/SSC Tapir Specialist Group n Vol. 14/2 n No. 18 n December 2005
CONTRIBUTED PAPERS Figure 1. Species list and percent photo-capture of each species through eight camera traps in the Taratak Forest Reserve (176 photos taken in 12,416 hours of monitoring). With respect to specific camera placements, only four among the eight camera placement sites detected Malayan tapirs; specifically, those points located near or in the salt lick area and below 320 m a.s.l. These four camera placements were also located close to each other, while the four other camera traps were located further away from the salt licks. The rank in percentage of herbivore image-captured during this study (see Figure 1) is similar to that of Kawanishi et al. (2002) in Taman Negara, Malaysia, where they also found Malayan Tapir, Barking Deer and Wild Boar as the three most common large mammals in their study area – in that order. The ratio of tapirs photo-captured per unit samp- ling effort (number of times that tapirs passed through the camera / number of trapping hours) during this study (0.089) is higher than that of a previous study in Kerinci Seblat National Park, also in Sumatra, where Holden et al. (2003) only recorded 0.017- 0.081 animals per unit effort. This difference emerges perhaps as an effect of altitude, but most likely the camera placement. In contrast to Holden and colleagues, who placed cameras to maximize tiger photo-captures, in this study cameras were placed near a salt lick located on secondary lowland forest, which seems to be the most preferred habitat of Malayan tapir. Kawanishi et al. (2002) also obtained a high number of tapir photographs Tapir Conservation n The Newsletter of the IUCN/SSC Tapir Specialist Group n Vol. 14/2 n No. 18 n December 2005 29 when conducting camera trapping near or on the trails leading to salt licks. Tapirs came to the salt lick in every one of the two-week intervals between checks. This preliminary result highlights the use and importance of this area for Malayan tapirs. Results also show that tapirs seem to prefer flat and damp areas, rather than dry areas with difficult topography and high slope or in hill forest (see Table 1). The tendency of Malayan tapir to prefer secondary forest rather than primary forest was recorded in previous studies (Novarino, 2004); this tendency also was recorded on other species of tapir such as the Baird’s tapir (T. bairdii) (Foerster & Vaughan, 2002). Regarding distance from forest edge, this study’s results show a significant difference between rates of tapirs photographed at the forest edge and in forest interior (see Table 1). However, these differences may perhaps be an effect of forest type and topography, rather than distance from the edge. O’Brien et al. (2003), in their studies in Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (BBSNP), also in Sumatra, found that tapirs were photographed at approximately equal rates near and far from the forest edge. Preliminary results also indicate that tapirs seem to be active mostly at night and tend to be solitary. All tapir photos are recorded at nigh and until early morning (19:57 to 04:25) and all are of single individuals. This result is different compared to previous results obtained by Holden et al. (2003) in Kerinci Seblat National Park, who recorded tapirs as active since Table 1. Characteristics of placement sites of eight photo-trapping cameras for the study of Malayan tapirs in the Taratak Forest Reserve, and number of tapir photo-captures.
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